Police escort Essex Veteran to 80th anniversary D-Day memorial service
104-year-old Don Sheppard, from Basildon, is Essex's oldest Normandy Veteran
Essex Police officers escorted the county's oldest Normandy veteran to a memorial service in Rettendon yesterday, marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
104-year-old Don Sheppard landed on the Normandy coast on June 6th, 1944, tasked with securing Juno beach.
He was escorted by officers from his home to the living memorial, by special cars, roads policing units and motorbike riders, greeted by the Basildon team before the service began.
Inspector Steve Parry, of the Basildon community policing team, said:
“This is the least we could do for our local D-Day hero, Don and we’re so honoured to have been part of his special day. It was our privilege to spend time with him and his family today.
“The actions and the sacrifice of Don, and those from his generation, should never be forgotten. He is a remarkable man, and his family is rightly extremely proud of him.
“I truly hope this small token of our appreciation for his service shows how proud we at Essex Police are of Don and it was a pleasure to have been part of his day.”
Lighting up the sky
Last night, beacons were lit across the UK to mark the 80th anniversary.
Thousands of events took place throughout the day, with hundred of beacons lit in the evening, including in Essex.
Beacon lighting ceremonies took place on Ardleigh Millennium Green, Brightlingsea War Memorial in Victoria Place, Debden Recreation Ground and The Jolly Sailor and The Ship in Heybridge Basin.